POWELL – It’s beginning to look a lot like Wildlights season at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. One of Central Ohio’s most cherished holiday traditions, Wildlights, efficiently powered by AEP Ohio, is now open and will run from Nov. 16, 2018 through Jan. 6, 2019.

This year marks the 30th Wildlights season with more holiday cheer than ever before. The entire Zoo will be transformed into a winter wonderland covered in millions of LED lights. Some of this year’s main Wildlights attractions include:

Wildlights at the Zoo

· Animated light shows, including “Holiday Rhythms Around the Watering Hole” at Conservation Lake and Jingle Ball located at the Shores Play Park.

· Do You Wanna Find a Snowman Seek-n-Find, brought to you by Disney On Ice: Frozen and Friends, with new winners and magical prizes each week.

· Santa’s Holiday Home in the North America region at the Battelle Ice Bear Outpost! Guests can spend time with Santa and also enjoy holiday sweets with Mrs. Claus at her kitchen in Conservation Courtyard. Please note that the Claus family will not be available after Dec. 23 due to other obligations.

· Wildlights rides, including the Polar Bear Express, a train ride through the North America winter wonderland; camel rides located in the North America region; and the 1914 Mangels-Illions Carousel, a historic Central Ohio treasure located near the Columbus Dispatch Charities Grand Pavilion. Additional fees may apply.

· Meet and Greets with Rudolph and Friends. Be sure to bring your camera as the most favorite reindeer of all, Rudolph, the lovable abominable snow monster, Bumble, and aspiring dentist, Hermey the elf, join us at Wildlights this year to create even more magical memories. You can also catch Rudolph and his friends on the big screen at the Shores Play Park 4-D Theater in the Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4-D Theater Experience.

· The Sparkling Spruce, presented by Meyers Jewelers, and its captivating light and sound shows “Candela: The Evolution of Light” and all-new show “Christmas Cheer Masterpiece” located in the Entry Village.

· And, of course, amazing animals! Many animals will be visible from the comfort of heated, indoor shelters, including Manatee Coast; Discovery Reef; the reptile building; the habitats at Vanishing Giants and the Naomi Coyle Dempsey Quest for Enlightenment Interpretive Center in Asia Quest; and the nocturnal building in the Australia and the Islands region. Others— including Santa’s favorite, the reindeer—will be outside during the festivities. Please note that some animal areas (such as the gorilla and bonobo habitats in Congo Expedition) will close at 4 p.m.

Other holiday traditions happening concurrently with Wildlights at the Columbus Zoo include:

· Stuff the Truck Food Drive with Kroger and the Zoo benefiting the Mid-Ohio Foodbank. Enjoy the sights and sounds of Wildlights while giving back to our community. Each guest who donates five non-perishable food items at the Zoo on Friday, Nov. 16 may enjoy one complimentary ticket to Wildlights to be used that evening. Guests who show one of their donated items at the parking booth will also receive free parking.

· Jack Hanna’s Home for the Holidays featuring Santa Paws, when guests can share holiday cheer and the spirit of giving with the animals of the Zoo! Visitors who donate an item from the Zoo’s wish list on the Zoo website event page will receive free admission on Saturday, Dec. 8. Santa Paws will also make a special visit to the animals of the Zoo on this day to give them special presents as animal enrichment! Later that evening, Jack Hanna returns home for the holidays and presents three LIVE shows with his animal friends.

· Zoo with Trans-Siberian Orchestra at Nationwide Arena. Enjoy the festive, familiar sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Wednesday, Dec. 26 at 3 p.m. or 8 p.m., and a portion of every ticket sold will benefit the Columbus Zoo’s conservation efforts.